City seeks advisory group volunteers

SANDPOINT — Since aiming to revive dormant citizen advisory groups, the city of Sandpoint has been on the lookout for volunteers.

Bringing these commissions and committees back to life will help reengage the community in the implementation of soon-to-be updated Comprehensive Plan and other city master plans, Jason Welker, community planning and development director, said. 

To form an advisory group, a minimum of five citizens must be enlisted. The existing Planning and Zoning and Arts, Culture, and Historic Preservation commissions will be joined by the Pedestrian/Bike, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Sustainability committees as well as the Parks & Recreation and Urban Forestry commissions.

It is anticipated that the three committees, Pedestrian/Bike, ADA, and Sustainability, will meet quarterly, each with a council member and city staff representative, to provide a forum for public dialogue and input for the purpose of advising the mayor and council on issues facing Sandpoint in each of the three areas of focus.

“The long-established Planning and Zoning Commission dwells in the realm of the city’s Comprehensive Plan and the Planning and Zoning sections of City Code, meeting twice monthly to conduct public hearings and make decisions or recommendations on a variety of land use issues within city limits.” Welker said. 

The rest of the commissions will meet monthly, each to oversee and evaluate the city’s implementation of specific community master plans. 

“The Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission works under the umbrella of the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Plan, adopted in 2021,” Welker said. “The Parks & Rec Commission will, naturally, oversee efforts to further implement improvements to the city’s parks and open spaces, as envisioned in our 2020 Parks & Recreation Master Plan. The Urban Forestry Commission will likewise advise City Council and City leadership on the implementation of our Urban Forestry Master Plan, adopted in 2022.”

At present the only committee that is fully staffed by citizen volunteers is the Pedestrian/Bicycle committee. The city still needs citizen applicants to sign up for the other four. The only requirement is that applicants are city residents, although one non-resident will be welcome on each of the committees, and, for now, over the age of 18. 

Information: lf.sandpointidaho.gov/Forms/CommitteeApplication.